Should Cyclists Strength Train?

It’s often not considered very “in” to strength train as a cyclist, never mind the struggle to find the time to hit the gym instead of getting on the bike. At Blackthorn Strong, we don’t just advise that you strength train we think its crucial. Here three thoughts as to why.

You actually get stronger!

Ok, so that seems like there’s no need to say but, let’s say it. Your muscles get bigger (not you don’t need to worry about becoming the hulk) and you literally get stronger. That means you can produce more force when you press down on the pedals which can actually make you faster and better on the hills. 

Injury Prevention

Strength training ensures that you are still using and training the ,useless that you don’t need or use when cycling. It provides balance to your body, ensuring that both the agonist and the antagonist muscles are trained and active. This helps to prevent injuries to joints that are often “pulled out of line” so to speak when some muscles are stronger than others, such as knees. 

Strength training has also been shown to increase bon density and increase tendon strength. This, in turn, makes you more stable and resistant to the forces placed on your body. When you feel more durable, “tougher” so to speak, you feel more in control of the bike and more able to deal with the hard efforts and long distances. 

It makes it more fun!

Cycling is at its best when we are flowing, moving up a tough hill at pace or opening up the sprint along the perfect flat. Strength training not only gives you the legs to this better, but it also helps ensure that your posture is better and more maintainable. As someone who has been cycling for decades, I can assure you that strength training made the whole thing more fun.